Inman Park is Very ‘In,’ Man

Atlanta always has new restaurants and areas to explore. Whether your taste buds desire international fare or crave dishes of a more domestic nature, in Inman Park you’ll find a variety of dining options, as well as unique boutique shopping and a fun, hip vibe, just steps away from the Atlanta BeltLine.

We were thrilled to be invited to dine at and review Hampton + Hudson Community Bar and Restaurant, a gastro pub with a rustic feel. It serves lunch, dinner, brunch and late-night bites with a focus on locally sourced creative pub fare and classics drinks. The menu is familiar and affordable with a little twist that keeps guests coming back. “We have always had our eyes on Inman Park,” said owner Jenn Streck. “Inman Park is such a wonderful community that inhabits all walks of life, from young professionals, to families, to residents that have lived there their whole lives. We loved that it was a walkable neighborhood that is located right off the Atlanta BeltLine. There is something special about seeing the same faces in H+H that makes it feel welcoming,” Streck said.

She and husband Billy opened the restaurant in 2016. The name Hampton + Hudson stems from nostalgia for the Streck family. Billy grew up going to Hampton Manor outside Albany, N.Y., with his family each summer. Hudson comes from the Hudson River of New York City, where the couple lived for five years.

The 3,500-square-foot pub is designed with a centrally located bright and spacious bar surrounded by a variety of private dining areas that can be used for small and intimate gatherings, as well as rooms for larger events. It also has an expansive covered patio.

Led by executive chef Craig Richards, the culinary team works with locally sourced food items that rotate seasonally to create elevated, yet approachable, creative pub fare with as close to zero waste as possible. “We do try our best in all that we do to keep that mindset,” said Billy Streck. “I know in the kitchen they try to utilize all of their produce in several dishes, to help with no waste, and we also use biodegradable straws and recyclable plastic for to-go cups and recyclable to-go boxes as well.”

Photos Courtesy of Hampton + Hudson // We started our meal with House Deviled Eggs, topped with paprika.

We were seated at a lovely window booth. Small fresh flowers topped and cheered each table. Our hipster waiter told us that the chef had pre-picked our menu, and we declared that we were ready to feast!

To start, we were served House Deviled Eggs topped with paprika along with the signature Hampton Hot Chicken Sliders made with buttermilk Tabasco aioli and served with pickles on a brioche bun. The chicken was superbly tender, and all the flavors rejoiced with each bite. This first course, which H+H call “Making Friends,” was paired the with the delightful “Holy Smokes!” cocktail, made with Banhez mezcal, Domaine de Canton, 18.21 bitters, hibiscus, lime and soda. Yum!

We enjoyed the Holy Smokes! cocktail with our first course.

Speaking of yum, our next course featured H+H’s popular Blueberry Yum Yum, a refreshing drink made with Brockmans gin, Lustau Blanco, Paven, lemon and simple bubbles (sparkling wine). We were then treated to the amazing, melt-in-your-mouth Poblano and Cheddar Croquettes with onion-top aioli filled with risotto, accompanied by the Wood Grilled Caesar Wedge, topped with capers and brown butter-thyme croutons. Our third and final course was made up of a wonderful Summer Vegetable Pasta made of fusilli, corn stalk, herb butter and seasonal vegetables, and their mouthwatering Chickpea Burger made with fried squash and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun alongside a fabulous Grilled Peach Salad with roasted corn, pickled sweet peppers and an assortment of herbs. With full bellies, we sipped on a glass of Chenin Blanc wine and a beer and then strolled around the trendy neighborhood for some window shopping.